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Fit, toned, arms look great in tank tops, short-sleeved shirts, dresses and various other forms of clothing. While this body part may be naturally thin and shapely for some people, others are cursed with loose, saggy skin on the undersides of their arms. Pushups are often touted as a remedy for flabby arms. Before adding this exercise to your workout routine, however, understanding its effects on your body is a must.

Understanding Arm Flab

Before you can eliminate arm flab, you must understand the basics of the substance. According to the American Council on Exercise, arm flab is usually caused by large stores of fat deposits on the underside of the arms, often in the region of the triceps muscle group. As the triceps is used only periodically during routine daily living, muscle mass can deteriorate -- especially in the later years -- and be replaced by fat deposits. In certain cases, such as rapid weight loss, loose skin combines with muscle mass deterioration to create even more arm flab.

Pushup Basics

Pushups are resistance exercises that target the pectoral and triceps brachii muscles. As with other types of resistance training, pushups help build muscle mass and can promote improvements in strength and exercise endurance. Pushups are generally classified as "body-weight" exercises, as they do not rely on dumbbells, barbells or other weight training equipment. This makes them a good choice if you don't have access to a private gym, as you can perform them at home.

Do Pushups Eliminate Arm Flab?

When you perform pushups consistently they'll help you build muscle mass in your triceps. As a result, pushups can help eliminate arm flab associated with loose skin. Unfortunately, while resistance training does boost your calorie burn and can promote some fat loss, it can't spot-reduce fat. Therefore, if you have arm flab as a result of fat deposits in your triceps region, pushups probably won't make a noticeable difference. At best, you may see generalized fat decreases across your entire body.

Burning Arm Flab

While pushups may not be the answer for arm flab associated with fat deposits, you have other options. Aerobic exercise -- such as walking, biking, jogging and swimming -- is especially effective for burning calories and fat. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise each week to promote ongoing fat loss, says the American College of Sports Medicine. As with resistance training, aerobic exercise cannot target specific body fat deposits, and instead will burn small amounts across the body. To burn 1 pound of fat, you must create a deficit of 3,500 calories through a combination of diet and exercise. When combined with resistance training -- including pushups -- aerobic exercise may be effective at getting rid of arm flab.

References (3)

American College of Sports Medicine: ACSM's Resource Manual for Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription

About the Author

Kathryn Vera holds a master's degree in exercise physiology, as well as licensure as a Registered Dietitian. Currently, she works as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist in Cardiac Rehabilitation, where she provides care to patients living with chronic heart disease.